Dr. Mehmet Oz stated Thursday that the Trump administration is preparing a sweeping crackdown on what officials now describe as an unprecedented wave of healthcare fraud targeting Medicare and Medicaid programs nationwide.
Oz described how senior administration officials have been meeting regularly and plan to hold a press conference on Monday to update the public on the shocking fraud scandal in Minnesota and outline a broader strategy against criminal networks exploiting the nation’s healthcare system.
“We’ve been talking constantly,” Oz said. “Several members of the administration are coming together on Monday.”
Oz noted that even longtime officials at CMS, who have witnessed virtually every type of criminal scheme, were stunned by the sophistication and scale of the Minnesota case.
“Although the Minnesota example is unforgettable and has been shocking—even to people inside CMS who have seen almost every kind of fraud,” Oz stated, “we have five times more durable medical equipment suppliers, such as those selling wheelchairs and canes, than McDonald’s franchises in South Florida.”
Oz emphasized that this imbalance raises serious questions about international involvement. “We believe the Cuban government may be involved,” he said, if the Miami mayor’s claims are accurate.
Additionally, Oz warned that Armenian criminal organizations operating in Southern California are running massive scams in hospice and home healthcare services.
He also cited a Russian multinational criminal network accused of attempting to steal $15 billion from the U.S. healthcare system. “We dismantled a major Russian operation that was trying to siphon billions,” Oz said, adding that suspects had fled to Russia.
In his concluding remarks, Oz asked: “What can the government do to effectively dismantle foreign criminal networks targeting Medicare and Medicaid? The nation’s most vulnerable citizens are at immediate risk.”
